I know he bears a most religious reverence Glost. And yet this tough impracticable heart, Is govern'd by a dainty-finger'd girl; Such flaws are found in the most worthy natures; Rat. The fair Alicia, Of noble birth and exquisite of feature, Cat. I fear, he fails in his allegiance there; The dame has been too lavish of her feast, Glost. No more, he comes. Enter Lord HASTINGS. Hast. Health, and the happiness of many days, Attend upon your grace. Glost. My good lord chamberlain, We're much beholden to your gentle friendship. Hast. My lord, I come an humble suitor to you, Glost. In right good time. Speak out your plea sure freely. Hast. I am to move your highness in behalf Of Shore's unhappy wife. Glost. Say you, of Shore? Hast. Once a bright star, that held her place on high: The first and fairest of our English dames, She never sees the sun, but thro' her tears, And wakes to sigh the live-long night away. Glost. Marry! the times are badly chang'd with her, From Edward's days to these. Then all was jollity, Are frequent in your visitation to her. you Hast. No farther, my good lord, than friendly pity, And tender-hearted charity allow. Glost. Go to; I did not mean to chide you for it. For, sooth to say, I hold it noble in you To cherish the distress'd On with your tale. Hast. Thus it is, gracious sir, that certain officers, And bearded wisdom, often have provok'd I have withheld the merciless stern law From doing outrage on her helpless beauty. Hast. Good Heav'n, who renders mercy back for mercy, With open-handed bounty shall repay you : Glost. Thus far, the voice of pity pleaded only: She shall be heard with patience, and each wrong Which much import us both; for still my fortunes C The queen's relations, our new-fangled gentry, vacy. [Exeunt. SCENE II. An Apartment in JANE SHORE's House. Enter BELMOUR and DUMONT. Bel. How she has liv'd you have heard my tale already, The rest your own attendance in her family, Enter JANE SHORE. Sure, or I read her visage much amiss, Or grief besets her hard. Save you, fair lady, J. Sh. My gentle neighbour, your good wishes still 2 Whose friendly service you commended to me? Bel. Madam, it is. J. Sh. A venerable aspect. Age sits with decent grace upon [Aside. his visage, And worthily becomes his silver locks; Which elsewhere you might find, expect to meet The welcome of a friend, and the free partnership Dum. You over-rate me much; and all my answer Must be my future truth; let them speak for me, And make up my deserving. J. Sh. Are you of England? Dum. No, gracious lady, Flanders claims my birth; At Antwerp has my constant biding been, Where sometimes I have known more plenteous days Than these which now my failing age affords. J. Sh. Alas! at Antwerp, !-Oh, forgive my tears! They fall for my offences—and must fall [Weeping. Long, long ere they shall wash my stains away. band. |